Manually-operated paper honeycomb expanding machine and method



May 22, 1962 H. s. JONES ETAL 3,035,961

MANUALLY-OPERATED PAPER HONEYCOMB EXPANDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 "O `I\N Q I e O O 8"@ o /0 n) f3 l; WJ o o T9 N xo O 1 lo o m a m O D 1, m 9 @wk ATTORNEY May 22, 1962 MANUALLY- s. JONES Erm. 3,035,961

OPERATED PAPER HONEYCOMB EXPANDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filed Oct. 5, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig. 4.

INVENTORS Harold S. J'o

.ALezander JDunlnP.

Michael. J: LLyrLlclL CCPrLon ATTORNEY May 22, 1962 H. s. JONES ErAL 3,035,961

MANUALLY-OPERATED PAPER HoNEYcoMB EXPANDING MACHINE AND METHOD Filedoct. 5, 1959 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTORS Harold S. J 01u95. Alexander JDUrLlOP- Mzhnel, J Lgmc'k W L i C.Prwr

BY .5M

ATTORNEY United States Patent O Mice 3,035,961 MANUALLY-OPERATED PAPER HONEYCOMB EXPANDING MACHINE AND METHOD Harold S. Jones, Saxonville, Alexander J. Dunlop, N atlck, and Michael J. Lynch, Roslindale, Mass., and William C. Prior, Chagrin Falls, Ohio, assignors t the Umted States of America as represented by Ithe Secretary of the Army Filed Oct. 5, 1959, Ser. No. 844,600 16 Claims. (Cl. 156-197) (Granted under Title 35, U.S. Code (1952), sec. 266) The invention described herein, if patented, may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment to us of any royalty thereon.

The present invention relates to mechanism and a method for making duplicate faced slices of expanded honeycomb from collapse-d honeycomb blocks or logs, and more particularly to a new and improved mechanism and method for doing this manually.

Many uses have been developed for the cellular material known as honeycomb among which are its use as a cushioning material by the Armed Forces in the aerial delivery of supplies and equipment. One of the newer logistical concepts which it is believed will be utilized to a larger extent than formerly, if future armed conicts arise, is the delivery of supplies and equipment aerially, i.e., by parachuting the same from low-flying aircraft. However, reduction of shock upon landing has been a major problem in yaerial delivery. Supplies or equipment which `are to be delivered aerially normally are lashed to a rigid platform or pallet. To absorb landing shock, various types of cushioning or energy-dissipating or absorbing material have been used on the underside of aerial delivery pallets. One of the most eiiectivev has been found to be expanded honeycomb made from paper.

Because of the extensive use being made of this material for various commercial purposes, different mecha# nisms and methods have been devised for making unexpanded honeycomb blocks or logs and for subsequently expanding these blocks or logs. For example, Donald B. Wheeler Patent 2,731,379 discloses a mechanism and method for mechanically expanding honeycomb logs and forming therefrom duplicate faced slices of predeterf mined dimensions. While these prior mechanisms may be suitable for use commercially, they are not suitable for use by the Armed Forces in the field because of their size and complexity, the need for various sources of power to operate these mechanisms, and the fact that they are not readily portable. The mechanism and method of the present invention are designed to overcome these handicaps of existing commercial devices.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a new rand improved mechanism and method for manually making duplicate expanded honeycomb slices faced on one or both sides.

3,035,961 Patented May 22, 1962 Yet another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved method for manually fabricating duplicate faced honeycomb slices.

A more general object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism for use in making duplicate faced slices of expanded honeycomb comprising easily interconnectable and `disconnectable components smallv enough in size to be easily handled manually so that the mechanism may be easily knocked down or reassembled making it readily portable yand which mechanism also is inexpensive to construct, maintain and use.

These and other objects, advantages and capabilities of the invention will become apparent from the following specification wherein reference is made to the accompanying ldnawings in which:

FIG. l is a fragmentary side elevational view of the complete mechanism of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of this mechanism on a somewhat larger scale;

FlG. 3 is a rear elevational View of a restrainer forming one of the components of the present invention taken generally on the line 3 3 of FIG. l; i

FIG. 4 is a vertical sectional View of the restrainer shown in FIG. 3 taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged top plan View of a so-called ex-` panding rake forming another component of .the mecha-V nism of the present invention;

1 FIG. 6 on an enlarged scale;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary top plan view of a portion of the expanding mechanism disclosed in FIG. l showing frame members used to encompass individual slices of expanded honeycomb at one position of adjustment;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 8 with the frame members in a different position of adjustment;

FIG. l0 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view of the frame mem-bers on `adjacent expanded honeycomb slices showing these frame members in the same position of adjustment as in FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is an enlarged fragmentary end elevational view of the frame :members on a single slice of expanded honeycomb showing these frame members in the same position as in FIG. 9;

IFIG. l2 is a 'diagram-matic side elevational view of a device for applying adhesive to the sheets used to face the individual slices of honeycomb;

FIG. 13 is a view of a fragment of collapsed honeycomb;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of a fragment of expanded honeycomb; and

A further object of the invention lis to provide a new and improved mechanism and method for manually making duplicate expanded honeycomb slices which is particularly adaptable for use by the Armed Forces in the iield for making the cushioning material used to cushion the fall of aerially-delivered supplies and equipment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a new and improved mechanism and method, as stated in the foregoing object, in Which certain equipment normally required to be present at aerial delivery stations for other purposes may be utilized in making expanded honeycomb slices.

Another object of the invention is to provide a new and improved frame to facilitate the manual handling of expanded honeycomb material in the manual fabrication of duplicate faced slices of expanded honeycomb.

FIG. l5 is 'a vertical cross-sectional view on the line 15-15 of FIG. 14.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be described as applied to the fabrication of honeycomb slices for use .as cushions on the underside of the pallets used in the aerial `delivery of supplies and equipment by the Armed Forces. However, it is to be understood that the specic example described herein is only illustrativeY of the application of the invention and is not to be taken as limiting the invention in any respect. For illustrative purposes, fa specific mechanism is disclosed herein forY` fabricating honeycomb slices in batches of five, each of the slices being `approximately 4 feet long, 3 feet wide 1 and 3 inches thick. Obviously, the invention could readilyk be adapted for making slices of other sizes in batches,`

- panding platform or working surface 10. While any suitable structure may be used for this purpose, it has been found that the tables normally used by aerial delivery units of `the Armed Forces for packing parachutes are particularly suitable for this purpose becauseV of their ready availability in aerial delivery areas, their light weight and compactness, their ready demountability and interchangeability in use, and the fact that they are of relatively elongated dimensions. Any desired number of these tables may be used end to end depending on the length it is desired to make the expanding platform, and these tables may have Wood, plastic, or metal tops. For the specicve'mbodiment herein described, two parachute packing tables were used to provide a working platform approximately 41/2 feet wideA and 23% feet long. One ofl these tables is shown complete at 12 in FIGQl from which it will be observed that the table has three sets of legs 114. These legs are collapsible so that the table may be reduced to compact formA for transportation or stor- For convenience in description, the left-hand end of the platform` Yformed by thetwo joined-together tables 12, as seen in FIGS. l and 2 will hereinafter be called the rear end thereof, while the right-hand end will be called the forward end. Connected to the rear end of the platform f1() is an extension y16 defining a loading zone. This extension comprises a pair of side rails 18 (FIG. 2), a rear cross rail 20', and a pair of forward cross rails 22 and 24 rigidly connected to each other adjacent opposite ends thereof by end pieces 26 (FIGS. l and 3). These rails and end pieces may be of angular shape in ltransverse section and of suitable length, and may be welded together along adjoining portions thereof to form a rigid structure. At its forward end, the extension 16 is supported by a suitable rigid connection with the rear end of platform 10, while the rear end is supported by a pair of folding legs 28.

A generally U-shaped tubular slide 30 (FIG. 2) has a forward end hinged to the rearmost forward cross rail 22 in the extension 16 and a rear end supported in raised position by a readily disconnectable bracket 32 hinged to the extension 16 so Vas to be swingable to a collapsed position against the top of the extension. Prefabricated unexpanded honeycomb suitable for use in the practice of the present invention is available commercially in socalled block or log form. Commercial logs of this type are loaded on the inclined slide 30, as indicated at 34 in FIG. l. Since these logs or blocks are of limited lengths,

the contiguous faces of adjacent logs or blocks are glued n together in effect to form a continuous length of unexpanded honeycomb. This may be done after the blocks have been loaded on the inclined slide 30, and it should -be done at a sutliciently early time so that the glue has time to dry 'before the glued portion is subjected to ex- Y pansion. The slide 30 feeds Vthe continuous log thus formed gravitationally into the vmouth of a restraining device indicated in its entirety by the number 36 in FIGS. l'fandrZ. From vthis device, the leading edge of the honeycomb material is fed forwardly through an expander 38 'causing'the collapsed log to expand from a condition Vin which the cells thereof are collapsed as shown in FIG. 13 to a' condition in which lthe cells are fully expanded as indicated in'FIGS. 14 and 15.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the restrainer 36 comprises opposite end members 40, each including a pair of generally L-shapedbrackets 42 xed in opposed spaced relation to the topside ofthe pair of angular-shaped end pieces 26 interconnecting the opposite ends of the for,- ward cross rails 2.2 and 24 in the extension A"16 (FIG. 3) by va plurality of screws 44 (FIG. 2). These screws 44 pass through the bases -of the brackets `42 and horizon-V tal flanges 46 on the end pieces 26 (FIG. 3) and arel threaded into in-turned -iianges 48.0n opposedangularshaped clamping and jaw-supportingpmembers 50 (FIGS.V 3 and 4) extending along the underside of horizontal flanges 46 on the end pieces 26 s0 as to clamp the brackets 42 yagainst the topside of these end pieces 26 and the angular-shaped jaw-supporting and clamping member 50 against the underside of these end pieces, thus rigidly anchoring the restrainer to the extension 16 at the region of the forward cross rails 22 and 24.

Fixedly secured to a depending flange 52 on each of the transverse angular-shaped jaw-supporting and clamping members 50 are the opposite ends of an angularshaped member 54 (FIG. 4) which has a vertical flange 56 supported below and generally parallel to the space between the horizontal anges on the forward cross rails 22 and 24 in the extensionV 16. A lower jaw 58 comprising a plurality of nylon straps is clamped against the vertical flange 56 on the fixed jaw-supporting and clamping member 50 by a metal strap 60 drawn into tight clamping engagement with the blade 58 by a plurality of screws 63 (FIG. 3),. Preferably a stop 64, which may comprise an elongated cylindrical rod, is interposed between the vertical flange 56 and the strap 60 to prevent tilting of the strap, thus assuring a rm and more even grip on the lower blade by the strap 60.

Cooperating with the lower fixed jaw blade 58 is an upper jaw blade 66 similar to lower blade 5S hut vertically adjustable lwith respect thereto. This blade is supported -by an angular-shaped clamping and supporting member 68 having a vertically depending flange 70 against which the jaw 66 is clamped by a strap 72 urged into clamping engagement by a plurality of screws 74 in the same manner that the lower jaw 58 is rigidly clamped. The clamping and supporting member 68 is vertically adjustable upon a pair of adjusting screws 76 extending vertically of the opposite end members 40. Since the screws 76 are of duplicate construction and similarly mounted, only one will be described. As seen in FIG. 4, this screw has a head 7 8` which abuts against the underside of a block 80 suitably anchored to the opposing faces of the two brackets 42 in the end member 40, and the head 78 is keyed to the block to lock the screw against turning when a hand knob 82 threaded upon the upper Vend thereof is adjusted. The upper jaw clamping and supporting member 68 has slotted ends which ride on the opposed adjusting screws 76, and it is biased upwardly into firm engagement 'with the hand knobs 82 on these adjusting screws by expansion springs 84, one of these springs 'being provided on each of the two adjusting screws. In the embodiment of the invention herein described a imouth approximately S0 inches wide and 3 inches high is defined between the upper and lower jaw blades 66 and 58, respectively, as best seen Vin FIG. 3.

The first or 'rear table in platform 10 has a rear anvgular-shaped cross rail 86 (FIG. 4) to which the forward end of the extension 16 is xed by means of a strap 88 and aplurality of clamping bolts passing through the forward cross rail 24 in the extension d6, the rear cross rail -86 in the rear table Vin platform 10, Yand the clamping strap 88, one of these bolts being shown at 90. The ex pander 38 is fixedly secured upon the rear end of the platform 10 immediately ahead of the restrainer 36 as shown in FIGS..1 and 2.A Itcomprises a smooth ilat bottom wall 92 suitably fixed to the rear end of the platform 10 and upstanding side walls l94 rigidly fixed to the bottom wall so as to converge uniformly with respect to the longitudinal centerline of the bottom wall 92. As a result, pressure will be applied in -aftransverse or endwise direction to the ends of-the honeycomb log 34 moving throughthis expander from left to right (FIG. 2). This, in conjunction with the restraint or drag imposed upon the honeycomb by theV restrainer 36, tends to cause the collapsed cells in the log to open up as shown in FIGS. 14 and 15 so that the portion of the log at the outlet or forward end of the expander 38 is fully expanded. In the specific embodiment herein described, the side walls 94 converge from a transverse spacing of approximately 50 inches at the entrance thereto to a spacing of approximately 38 inches over a forward distance of approximately 32 inches.

After the honeycomb log 34 has .been fed or forced through the restrainer 36 and the expander 38 by hand to the forward or exit end of the expander, continued expansion of the honeycomb log is effected by means of a rake 96 (FIGS. 5 and 6). This rake comprises an elongated tube 98 preferably' square in cross section having end pieces 100 depending from the opposite ends thereof and handles 102 rigidly xed to the opposite ends thereof and spaced outwardly somewhat from the end pieces 100. Suitably iixed in the elongated part 98 of the rake 96 is a plurality of teeth or pins 104 spaced at uniform intervals to adapt the same for engagement in adjacent cells of expanded honeycomb. By virtue of this construction, forward pull on the rake sufficient to draw the unexpanded log through the restrainer 36 and expander 38 may be uniformly distributed over the width of the honeycomb structure, thereby uniformly to expand the log 34. This pull is exerted manually, the opposite handles 102 of the rake being grasped by operators on opposite sides of the plat-form 11i who move forward at a uniform pace.

When a length of honeycomb conforming to the length of the platform has been drawn out, the rake 96 may be locked in forward position by means of locking sockets 186 rigidly fixed at the forward end of the forward member in the platform 10. These sockets have open top and outwardly facing sides, and the rake 96 normally is placed in locking position by raising it sufficiently for the end pieces 108 to clear the top edge of the socket 106 and then lowering the rake While the end pieces are held in vertical alignment with the sockets 186, so that they engage in these sockets.

After a continuous length of honeycomb has been expanded as explained above, the improved method of the present invention comprehends the division of this length of expanded honeycomb into individual slices of uniform length and the framing or encompassing of the individual slices with individual frames to `facilitate the `further handling of the slices. The framing members used in carrying out this method comprise duplicate lateral frame members 108 (FIGS. 8 to ll) and duplicate transverse frame members 110. The lateral frame members comprise elongated metal plates or straps conforming in length substantially to the length of the honeycomb slices it is desired to make and having flanges 112 to rigidify the same extending throughout the length at the top and bottom edges thereof except for a short distance adjacent each of the ends, as seen in FIGS. 8 to l0. Aflixed to the flanges 112 adjacent the opposite ends thereof are metal pads or seats 114 upon which the lateral frame members rest when they are being positioned for use and which assist in properly locating these frame members. Adjacent each end of the lateral framemembers 108 are also aflixed outwardly projecting pivot pins 116 for a purpose to be described.

The transverse frame members 110 comprise an elongated bar or strap-like part 118 having a flange 120 along one longitudinal edge thereof and `generally L-shaped end pieces 122 fixed to the opposite ends thereof to form rigid lugs disposed at right angles to the longitudinal axis of these transverse frame members. These end pieces 122 each have a longitudinal slot 124 formed therein adapted slidably to engage the pivot pins 116 on the lateral frame members 108 when the frame members are being disposed in encompassing relation to the expanded honeycomb properly to locate the several frame members. The use of these frame members will be described in detail below. For the specific embodiment of the invention described herein, the lateral frame members 108 may be approximately 48 inches long and 21/2 inches high and the space between the lugs 122 on the transverse frame members 11i) is approximately 36 inches.

In the practice of the aforesaid method of the present invention, use is also made of an adhesive applying device 126 (FIGS. l and 12) and a pair of presses for applying pressure to the faced slices while the adhesive with which the facing sheets are applied is drying. One of these presses is shown at 128 in FIGS. 1 and 2. Any suitable adhesive appliers and presses may be used in the practice of the invention, and these parts may -be supported by a third parachute folding table fragmentarily shown at 130 in FIG. l, and suitably located with respect to platform 10 to facilitate the practice of the method. The adhesive applying mechanism 126 is centrally located on this table and one press unit 128 is located on each side of the adhesive applying mechanism. While only one press 128 is shown in FIGS. l and 2, it is to be understood that there is a press on the right side of the adhesive applying mechanism 126 similar t0 that shown on the left and which will be described hereinafter.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 12, a suitable adhesive applying mechanism comprises a rigid framework 132 having brackets 134 fixed to the rear end thereof for supporting a roll 136 of facing material such as paper. From this roll, paper is fed under an idler roll 138 and over an applicator roll 140; both of which rolls are journalled for free rotation in framework 132. Applicator roll 140 dips into a tank 142 filled to a predetermined depth with a suitable liquid adhesive so that a coat of this adhesive is applied to the underside of the facing sheet as it passes over this roll. From :the applicator roll 140, the adhesive coated facing passes through a scrapping and smoothing device comprising a guide plate 144 and a scraper blade 146, both of which may be adjustable to facilitate the application of a uniform coat of adhesive to the facing. Since both the idler roll 138 and the guide plate 144 are loca-ted below the plane of the upper side of `the applicator roll 140, assurance is had that the facing will be held in contact with the applicator roll 140, as it passes over the same. From the scraper 146, the facing passes under a suitable knife 148 by means of which the facing member is severed into sheets of fthe desired length.

The presses 128 each comprise merely a lower platen 150 (FIG. 1) suitably anchored to the top of the table 139 so as to be fixedly supported in -a horizontal plane, and an upper platen 152 hinged to a pair of vertically elongated posts 154 in overhanging relation to the lower platen at a position sufficiently elevated therefrom so that a predetermined number of faced honeycomb slices may be placed in the press at one time, and a predetermined pressure will be `applied thereto when the upper platen is locked by a latch 156 in its lower or horizontal position as shown in FIG. l. Preferably, the sides of the two platens which engage the honeycomb slices are each covered with a sheet of foam rubber 15'7. Posts 154 should be long enough iso that the press 128 will receive at one time the number of honeycomb slices which it is desired to make in each batch. The embodiment of the invention presently being described is designed to receive ive faced slices, each approximately 3 inches thick and to apply a pressure of approximately 50 pounds to the slices in the press when the latch 156 is locked.

The improved method of the present invention will now be described as it might be carried out utilizing the above-described apparatus of the present invention assuming that a honeycomb log 34 `of suicient length to prepare at least two batches of tive expanded slices each has been loaded on the inclined slide 38 and that the forward end of this log has been fed manually through the restrainer 36 into the expander 38 until it projects out of the forward end of the expander far enough to allow the teeth 104 on the rake 96 to be engaged in the cells of the forwardly projecting portion of the honeycomb. Thereupon a steady forward pull is applied to the opposite handles 102 on the rake by operators on the opposite sides of the platform 10 of sufhcient magnitude to draw the u11- expanded honeycomb through restrainer 256 and expander 3 and thereby expand the same as previously described forming a continuous expanded honeycomb strip which IQStS on platform 10. By adjusting the hand knobs S2 on the. restrainer 36, the height of the upper jaw 66 may be varied, thus varying the height of the opening or mouth o f the -restrainer to compensate for variations in the thickness of the log 34 and thus assure that a restraint or drag is imposed on the honeycomb at this point sutiicient to cause expansion of the log as it is drawn forward by the rake 96. lForward movement of rake 96is continued until theA rake is brought substantially into line with the locking sockets 166. It is then locked at this forward position `by lifting the same sufficiently so that the end pieces 100 on the yrake may be inserted in sockets 106, care Ibeing taken so that the teeth remain engaged in the cells of the elongated strip of expanded honeycomb. Using an expanding mechanism dimensioned as previously mentioned herein, this expanded strip forward of the expander 3S will' be slightly more than 20 feet long and approximately 38 inches Wide so that a plurality of separate slices of uniform length may be made from this strip; The mechanism herein specifically described is designed to make slices approximately 4 feet long in batches of've each las hereinafter described.

Fabrication of these slices is facilitated by the use of the improved lateral and transverse frame members S and 110, respectively, of the present invention.` 'I'.he 1ateral frame members 108 are first placed in end-to-end relation lengthwise of platform 10 on :opposite sides of :the expanded strip of honeycomb resting on the platform.

Transverse lframe members 110 are then brought intoV operative engagement With each end of each pair of opposite lateral frame members 108 by bringing the lugs 122 on these transverse frame members into straddling engagement with the ends of the lateral frame members as shown in FIGS. l, 8, and 10, the slots 124 on these lugs engaging the pins 116 011 the lateral frame members to guide positioning of the parts. Since the strip of expanded honeycomb on platform 10 is from l to 2 inches Wider than the distance between the lugs 122 in the embodiment of the inventtion which has been described herein, some transverse compression of the expanded strip is necessary to engage the transverse frame members 110 in straddling position with respect to the lateral frame members 108. Normally, the force generated by the resistance of this expanded honeycomb to compression is sufficient frictionally to lock the frame members 1198 and 110 in the aforesaid position without the aid of other locking means sufliciently 4firmly to permit such handling of these framed slices as is required in facing the slices and pressing the faced slices. l

After the frame members have all been interengaged, as above described, the transverse end frame members 110 connecting the adjoining ends of adjacent lateral frame members 108 will lie in relatively closely spaced longitudinally aligned relation across the top of the continuous expanded honeycomb strip as shown in FIGS. 8 and 10. These aligned transverse -frame members 110 thus form guides for cutting the continuous strip of expanded honey- Y comb on the platform 10 into slices of substantially the same length. This may `be done by running a hand knife, such, as an ordinary boning knife indicated at 158 in FIG. l0 across the continuous expanded horizontal honeycomb strip between each pair of adjoining transverse frame members 110 and along the transverse frame members 110 Iadjacent the expander 3S and that adjacent the rake 96 so that five slices of expanded honeycomb each approximately yfour feet long will be formed. To protect the platform 10 from being damaged by Vthe knife, a series of metallic guards 159 is fixed transversely of the platform spaced longitudinally thereof at the proper intervals to locate the longitudinal center line of adjacent guard plates at distances from each other corresponding substantially to the length ofY one of the duplicate honeycomb slices.

These guard plates also'assist in Aproperly locating the lateral frame members 1&8 when the framing is being disposed in operative relation with the unsevered honeycomb-strip on the platform 10 and'tix these lateral frame members against endwise displacement because the pads 114 adjacent the ends of the lateral frame members abut the opposed edges of adjacent guard plates 159 as indicated in FlGS. l() and `ll, thus locking the lateral frame members in position.

Because of the resistance of the slices to compression, the frame members 108 and 116 will be held in framing position suiciently firmly Vto allow handling of the unfaced slices in the perfomance of the rest of the improved method of the present invention Without causing collapse thereof and the transverse frame members 110 may be turned on the pins 116 as an axis to the position shown in FIGS. 9 and ll so as not to interfere with the facing of the expanded slices or stacking thereof in the press 128.

To face the slices, a sheet of facing of the desired length, i.e., slightly more than 4 feet long, is drawn through the adhesive-applicator 126 so that adhesive will be applied to the underside thereof, and the strip is then severed.y The severed sheet is placed on Vthe lower platen 156 of the press, adhesive side up. A framed slice of expanded honeycomb is then placed on the facing sheet on the platen as indicated at 1601 in FIG. 1v, and a second sheet of facing drawn off and severed `as abovedescribed. This second sheet is placed on the top side of the expanded honeycomb slice 1601 in the press, adhesive side facing downwardly. A third sheet of facing is then placed on the second facing sheet, adhesive side up, and a second framed slice of expanded honeycomb 1692 placed on this third sheet of facing. The abovedescribed process is repeated until all ve of the slices 1661 to 1605 have been faced, and the upper platen 152 then is locked in its lowered pressure-applying position by means of the latch 156. It is allowed to remain in this position while a second batch of five faced slices is fabricated as above described and placed in the second press, after which the first batch of faced slices may be removed from the first press. Within the time needed to make at batch of jive faced slices, the adhesive used in facing the previous batch normally will set and if desired the faced slices as taken from the presses may be placed aside for more thorough drying.

While the improved method of the present invention has been described las practiced with the improved mechanism as described herein, it will be understood that the method could be practiced with other apparatus. For example, the manner in which the honeycomb log is expanded is immaterial to applicants method becauseV a continuous strip couldv be used regardless of the manner in which it has expanded. However, Vthe mechanism herein described has been found to be Vparticularly suitablefor expediting the production of faced slices manually in the field. Utilizing the mechanism and method herein described, it has been found that two men can make approximately twenty-live four-foot slices per hour.

It Will also be apparent that the improved mechanism described herein can be collapsed to a relatively small size so that it is readily transportable when necessary, and does not require excessive space in transportation or storage. An idea of the advantage to he gained by expanding honeycomb at the place of use in the field rather than at some remote location through the saving in transportation may be gained from the fact that expanded slices made by the improved mechanism and method described above occupy a volume about 30 times that of the log from which the slices are made. Obviously, an enormous saving in transportation space results from the use of the present invention.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that variations and modifications thereof may be made without de-4 parting from the underlying principles of the invention. It is desired, therefore, by the following claims, to include within the scope of the invention, all such variations and modifications by which substantially the results of the invention may be obtained through the use of substantially the same or equivalent means.

We claim:

1. A method of making a faced slice of expanded honeycomb of substantially predetermined dimensions which comprises completely expanding collapsed honeycomb log to form a continuous fully expanded strip longer than the length of the individual slice it is desired to make and somewhat greater in transverse width, supporting said fully expanded honeycomb strip in a fixed horizontally disposed position, applying transverse compressing forces along transversely oppositely disposed portions of the lateral edges of said continuous xedly supported fully expanded strip subsequent to complete expansion thereof of end-to-end length corresponding to the length of the slice it is desired to make, transversely severing said iixedly supported fully expanded strip along the transverse boundaries of said area of transverse compression to form a slice of substantially the length desired and facing said severed slice while it is under transverse compression.

2. A method of making faced slices of expandedvhoneycomb of substantially predetermined dimensions which comprises completely expanding collapsed honeycomb log to form a continuous fully expanded honeycomb strip at least several times longer than the length of the individual slices it is desired to make and of somewhat greater transverse width than said slices, supporting said fully expanded honeycomb strip in a iixed horizontally disposed position, applying transverse compressing forces to the lateral edges of said continuous ixedly supported fully expanded strip along separate successive transversely opposite areas extending lengthwise of said expanded strip and each of the same length subsequent to complete expansion of said strip, severing said xedly supported fully expanded compressed strip along the transverse boundaries of said areas of transverse compression to divide said strip into a plurality of substantially duplicate individual severed slices, adhesively affrxing facing to said slices while the latter are under transverse compression and relieving the transverse compression on said faced slices after the adhesive securing said facing has had time to set.

3. A method of making faced slices of expanded honeycomb of substantially predetermined dimensions in batches which comprises completely expanding collapsed honeycomb log lto form a continuous strip of fully expanded honeycomb at least as long as the aggregate length of the number of slices in a batch and somewhat greater in transverse width, supporting said fully expanded honeycomb strip in a xed horizontally disposed position, apply transverse compressing forces to the lateral edges of said fxedly supported fully expanded continuous strip along separate successive transversely opposite areas lengthwise of the said strip corresponding in number to the number of slices in a `batch and each of a length corresponding substantially to the length of the :individual slices in a batch, severing said xedly supported fully expanded strip along the transverse boundaries of said areas of transverse compression to divide the strip into a number of substantially duplicate individual slices corresponding to the number in a batch, adhesively afhxing facing to the said severed slices while the latter are under transverse compression, applying pressure to the faced sides of all of the said faced slices simultaneously for an interval sufficient for the adhesive to set and thereafter relieving the transverse compression on said faced slices.`

4. A method of making faced slices of expanded honeycomb of substantially predetermined dimensions in batches each consisting of a predetermined number of slices which comprises completely expanding collapsed honeycomb log to form a continuous strip of fully expanded honeycomb at least as long as the aggregate length of the individual slices in a batch and somewhat greater in transverse width, supporting said fully expanded honeycomb strip in a fixed horizontally disposed position, applying transverse compressing forces to the lateral edges of said xedly supported fully expanded continuous strip subsequent to complete expansion thereof along separate successive transversely opposite areas lengthwise of the said strip corresponding in number to the number of slices in a batch and each of a length corresponding substantially to the length of the individual slices in a batch, severing said fxedly supported fully expanded strip along the transverse boundaries of said areas of transverse compression to divide the strip into the desired number of substantially duplicate individual severed slices, adhesively aflxing facing to the said slices while the latter are under transverse compression, applying pressure to the faced sides of all the said faced slices in said first batch simultaneously, making a second batch of faced slices as aforesaid while retaining the first batch under pressure to allow time for the adhesive to set, releasing the pressure on said rst batch of slices and releasing the transverse compression on each of the slices in each batch of faced slices after the facing pressure has been released on the 'batch as an entirety.

5. A method of making faced slices of expanded honeycomb of substantially predetermined dimensions which comprises completely expanding collapsed honeycomb log to form a continuous fully expanded strip longer than the length of the individual slice it is desired to make and somewhat greater in transverse width, supporting said fully expanded honeycomb strip in a fixed horizontally disposed position, applying transversely directed compressing forces to the lateral edges of said fully expanded xedly supported honeycomb strip subsequent to expansion thereof by forcing lateral frame members into positions at which pressure is applied to the lateral edges of said xedly supported fully expanded honeycomb strip, fixing said lateral frame members in the position to which they are forced as aforesaid by straddling the opposed ends thereof with transverse frame members of somewhat less length than the width of said expanded honeycomb strip, transversely severing said expanded transversely compressed strip alongboundaries formed by the edges of said straddling frame members to divide said honeycomb strip into slices of substantially the length desired, adhesively aflixing facing to said severed slice while it is under the compression imposed by said frame membersy and removing the said frame members from said faced slice after the adhesive securing said yfacing has had time to set.

6. A method of `making a faced slice of expanded honeycomb of substantially predetermined dimensions which comprises completely expanding collapsed honeycomb log to form a continuous fully expanded honeycomb strip longer than the length of the individual slice it is desired to make and somewhat greater in transverse width, supporting said fully expanded honeycomb strip in a fixed horizontally disposed position, aligning duplicate rigid lateral frame members of substantially the same length as a slice and of less height than the thickness of said strip in transversely opposed relation to each other along the opposite lateral edges of said fixedly supported, fully expanded strip, straddling the correspondingly located ends of the opposed lateral frame members and said expanded honeycomb strip with duplicate transverse frame members dimensioned to hold said lateral frame members in transverse compressing relation with said expanded strip along the lateral edges thereof, transversely severing said expanded strip using the edges of said transverse frame members as a guide so that a slice of substantially the desired length is thereby formed, shifting said transverse frame members to straddling relation with the severed ends of said slice, adhesively aixace-5,961

faced slice after/'the adhesive securing saidfacing has had time to set. Y

-'7. A method of making faced slices of expanded honeycomb of substantially predetermined dimensions whichV comprises completely expanding collapsed honeycomb e to Vform a continuous fully expanded honeycomb strip va predetermined number of times longer than the length of the individual slices it is desired to make and somewhat greater in transverse width, supporting said fully expanded honeycomb strip in a fixed horizontally disposed position, aligning duplicate rigid lateral frame members of substantially the same length as a slice and of less height than the thickness of said strip end to end along opposite lateral edges of said expanded strip in a predetermined number of transversely opposed pairs, straddling the correspondingly located ends of the opposed lateral Vframe members and said fixedly supported fully expanded honeycomb strip with duplicate transverse frame members dimensioned to hold said lateral frame members in transverse compressing relation with said expanded strip along the lateral edges thereof, transverselyI severing said expanded strip using the edges of said transverse frame members as a guide so as to divide the expanded strip into a predetermined number of slices of the desired length, shiftingV said transverse frame members into straddling relation with the severed ends of said slices, adhesively axing facing to said severed slices while the latter are under transverse compression, applying pressure to the faced sides of all the said faced slices as a group for an interval suiicient for the adhesiveto set and thereafter removing the frame members from said faced slices.

8. A method of making faced slices of expanded honey- @Gmb Of Substantially predetermined dimensions in batches each consisting of a predetermined number of slices which comprises completely expanding collapsed honeycomb log to form a continuous strip of fully expanded honeycomb at least as Ilong as the aggregate length of the number of slices in a -batch and somewhat greater in transverse width, supporting said fully expanded honeycomb strip in a iixed horizontally dispose dposition, aligning duplicate rigid lateral frame members of Vsubstantially the same length as a slice and ofjless height than the thickness of said strip end to end along opposite lateral edges of said expanded strip in a number of transversely opposed pairs corresponding to the number of slices in a batch,'straddling the-correspondingly located ends of the opposed lateral frame-members and said fixedly supported fully expanded honeycomb strip with duplicatetransverseframe members dimensioned to hold saidV lateral frame members inV transverse compressing relation with said expanded strip along the later-al edges thereof, transversely severing said expanded strip using the edg of said transverse frame members -as a guide so as to divide the expanded strip into a numberV of slices of the desired length corresponding to the number in a batch, shifting said transverse frame members into 4straddling relation with the severed ends of said slices, adhcsively-aflixing facing to said severed slices while the latter are under transverse compression, applying pressure to the faced sides of all of the said faced slices in said first batch, simultaneously, making a second batch of faced slices as aforesaid while retaining the first batch under pressure Vto allow time for the adhesive to set, lreleasing the pressure on said iirst batch of slices and re- `leasingthe transverse compression on the slice in each batch of faced slices after the facing pressure has been released on the batch as an entirety. Y

9. A rack for temporarily framing an expanded genc erally rectangular-shaped honeycomb slice of predetertially duplicate transverse frame members of less width than the thickness of said expanded slice and cooperating structure adjacent the ends of saidV lateral and transverse frame members for detachablyV connecting the same together inencompassing relation with said expanded'slice including projecting pins on said lateral frame members Iand lugs on said transverse frame members having a portion substantially normal to the longitudinal axis thereof and spaced so as to dispose the same lfor straddling opposed ends of said lateral frame members when the latter are pressed against the lateral edges of a honeycomb slice with sutlicient force to compress the said slice somewhat, said lugs having parts thereof constructed and arranged slidably and pivotally 4to engage said pins when said transverse frame members are moved into straddling position.

10. A rack for temporarily framing an expanded generally rectangular-shaped honeycomb slice of pretermined dimensions comprising a pair of substantially duplicate lateral frame members of less height than the thickness of said expanded slice, a pair of substantially duplicate transverse frame members of less Width than the thickness of said expanded slice, lugs on the opposite ends of said transverse frame members disposed in planes normal thereto and spaced from each other to adapt said transverse frame members for straddling said lateral frame members when limited compression is applied to said expanded slice through said lateral frame members and pin and slot connections between said lugs and the opposite ends of said lateral frame members to guide movement of said transverse frame members into straddling relation with said lateral frame members and to form -a connection about which said straddling member may pivot relative to said lateral frame members.

ll. A rack for temporarily framing an expanded generally rectangular-shaped honeycomb slice of predetermined dimensions comprising a pair of substantially duplicate lateral frame members of less height than the height of said expanded slice, a pair of `substantially duplicate transverse iframe members of less Width than the thickness'of said transverse frame members, slotted lugs on the opposite ends of said transverse frame members disposed in plane normal thereto and spaced from each other to adapt said transverse frame members for straddling said lateral frame members when limited compression is applied to said expanded slice through said lateral frame members, and structure `adjacent the ends of said lateral frame members cooperatively engageable with the slots in the lugs `on said transverse frame members to guide movement of theV said transverse frame members into straddling relation with said lateral frame members, and to form connection about which said transverse frame members may pivot relative to said lateral frame members. n 12. A rack for temporarily framing an expanded generally rectangular-shaped honeycomb slice of predetermined dimensions upon a platform having structure thereon defining opposed abutments spaced from each other a predetermined distance comprising a pair of substantially duplicate lateral frame members of less height than thickness of said expanded slice, a pair of substantially duplicate transverse frame members of less width than the thickness of said expanded slice, lugs on the opposite ends of said transverse frame members disposed in planes normal thereto and spaced from each other to adapt said transverse frame members for straddling said lateral frame members when limited compression is applied to said expanded slice through said lateral frame members, kand pin and slot connections `between said lugs and the opposite ends of said lateral frame members to cooperate in positioning said transverse frame Vmembers in straddling relation to the said lateral frame members and to form a connection about which said straddling members may pivot relative to said lateral frame members and other structure adjacent the opposite ends of said lateral frame members to define abutments spaced from each other to cooperate with the opposed abutments on said platform for locating said lateral frame members at a predetermined position relative thereto and -to lock the same against endwise displacement from said position.

13. A method of making a faced slice of expanded honeycomb of substantially predetermined dimensions which comprises completely expanding collapsed honey comb log to form a continuous fully expanded honeycomb strip longer than the length of the individual slice it is desired to make and somewhat greater in transverse width, supporting said -fully expanded honeycomb strip in a fixed horizontally disposed position, locating duplicate rigid lateral frame members of substantially the same length as a slice and of less height than the thickness of said strip along the opposite lateral edges of said expanded strip subsequent to expansion thereof in transversely opposed relation to each other, fixing said lateral frame members against endwise displacement from said position, straddling the correspondingly located ends of the opposed lateral frame members and said fully expanded honeycomb strip with duplicate transverse frame members dimensioned to hold said lateral frame members in transverse compressing relation with said fully expanded strip lalong the lateral edges thereof, transversely severing said expanded strip using the edges of said transverse frame members as a guide so as to form a slice of expanded honeycomb of substantially the desired length, adhesively afiixing facing to said severed slice while it is under compression and removing the said frame members from said faced slice after the adhesive securing said facing has had time to set.

14. Apparatus for use in fabricating faced slices of expanded honeycomb comprising structure defining a horizontally disposed platform, -a pair of substantially duplicate lateral frame members, la pair of substantially duplicate transverse frame members, cooperating structure adjacent the ends of said lateral and transverse frame members for detachably connecting the same together in encompassing relation with a length of expanded honeycomb supported on said platform spaced so as to compress the said honeycomb at least transversely thereof, said cooperating structure being held in cooperative relation solely by the force generated in said frame members Iby the opposition of said expanded honeycomb to compression, structure defining abutments extending transversely of said platform and stop members defining abutments on said lateral frame members spaced so as to be cooperatively inter-engageable with the abutments on said platform thereby to guide placement of said frame members relative to a length of honeycomb on said platform and to lock the same against endwise displacement from said position.

15. Apparatus for use in fabricating faced slices of expanded honeycomb comprising structure defining a horizontally disposed platform, structure on said platform to form at least one pair of opposed abutments thereon spaced a predetermined distance apart, a pair of substantially duplicate lateral frame members, la pair of substantially duplicate transverse frame members, cooperating structure adjacent the ends of said lateral and transverse frame members for detachably connecting the same together in encompassing relation with a length of expanded honeycomb supported on said platform spaced so as to compress the said honeycomb at least transversely thereof, said cooperating structure being held in cooperative relation `solely by the force generated in said frame -mernbers by the opposition of said expanded honeycomb to compression and abutments on said lateral frame members spaced to cooperate with said opposed platform abutments in locating said lateral frame members at a pledetermined position endwise of said platform and the honeycomb thereon and to lock the same against endwise displacement from said position.

16. Apparatus for use in fabricating faced slices of expanded honeycomb in batches comprising structure deining a horizont-ally disposed plat-form at least as long as the aggregate length of the number of slices in a batch and somewhat greater in Width than a slice, a plurality of substantially duplicate lateral lframe members, a plurality of substantially duplicate transverse frame members, cooperating structure adjacent the ends of said lateral and transverse frame members for detachably connecting said lateral and transverse frame members together when said lateral frame members are disposed in aligned endwise relation along opposite lateral edges of the expanded honeycomb on said platform and in transversely opposed pairs so as to compress said expanded honeycomb at least transversely thereof between each opposed pair of lateral frame members, said cooperating structure being held in cooperative relation solely by `the yforce generated in said frame members by the opposition of said expanded honeycomb to compression, abutments on said platform arranged in opposed pairs, the abutments in said pairs being spaced a predetermined distance apart and a pair of abutments on each of said lateral frame members spaced so 'as to be capable of cooperating with the opposed pairs of abutments on said platform in guiding placement of lateral frame members on opposite sides of the length of expanded honeycomb on said platform so as to dispose the same in transversely opposed pairs and to lock the same against endwise displacement from said position.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,523,397 Cane Ian. 20, 1925 2,731,379 Wheeler Jan. 17, 1956 2,832,171 Batey Apr. 29, 1958 2,849,758 Plumley et al. Sept. 2, 1958 

1. A METHOD OF MAKING A FACED SLICE OF EXPANDED HONEYCOMB OF SUBSTANTIALLY PREDETERMINED DIMENSIONS WHICH COMPRISES COMPLETELY EXPANDING COLLAPSED HONEYCOMB LOG TO FORM A CONTINUOUS FULLY EXPANDED STRIP LONGER THAN THE LENGTH OF THE INDIVIDUAL SILCE IT IS DESIRED 